ClueBy
TodayArchiveWord list

Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 116 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

Make a worksheet

Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

Words on the sheet
468
Word bank
YesNo
↻ New worksheet

Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: net · branch · can · swing · cabinet · root · pitch · wave

  1. What do you think of the new ________________?
  2. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  3. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  4. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  5. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  6. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  7. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  8. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  9. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  10. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  11. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  12. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  13. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  14. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  15. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  16. David sat on the ________________.
  17. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  18. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  19. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  20. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  21. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  22. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  23. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  24. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. branch — of a tree
  3. branch — a division
  4. branch — of a bank
  5. swing — music
  6. root — of a plant
  7. net — in sport
  8. wave — with your hand
  9. net — after costs
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. pitch — completely
  12. swing — in golf
  13. can — a tin
  14. net — for catching
  15. pitch — a sports field
  16. swing — to play on
  17. root — of a word
  18. cabinet — a cupboard
  19. wave — a sudden rise
  20. wave — of the sea
  21. can — a tin
  22. can — to be able to
  23. root — the cause
  24. pitch — a sales talk

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com